Same brand tyre - different tread ??

[Steve N]

I've just had delivered a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Tyres from HighonBikes.

The tread is different on the tyres ???

Is this normal ?
They look similar in design but the pattern is larger on one tyre and smaller, tighter together on the other. The smaller tread has small cut-out on all the tread blocks but the larger tread one only has cut outs on the larger outer blocks of the pattern.
They are both marked as: Schwalbe Kevlar Guard Marathon 28-622 28 x 1 10 700 x 28c

They do have different numbers stamped inside the tyres.

 

[PpPete]

I'd contact the vendor straight away - sounds very dodgy to me, although it could be that the pattern has changed slightly between batches.

 

[Cheule]

I bought a pair of Marathon Plus from them last month and they were identical. Very odd.

 

[ian turner]

To quote a description on one site

The latest generation of Marathon tyres has had a makeover including all of the following new features. New Tread - New Puncture Protection - New Sidewalls and New Compound

so I'd guess it was old stock and new stock. Perhaps contact them about getting a replacement for the old stock one.

 

[Midnight]

Schwalbe make a number of different tyres with the Marathon name, including Marathon plus, Marathon Supreme, Marathon Racer and Marathon Plus tourer. It may be that you've got tyres from different ranges. See Here

 

[S_t_e_v_e]

I suppose that's a -1 for HighonBikes customer service...

 

[Steve N]

...... I'd guess it was old stock and new stock. Perhaps contact them about getting a replacement for the old stock one.

Spot on Ian

On closer inspection I found in tiny writing, one was marked HS308 and the other HS368

After checking Schwalbe's site I found the HS308 was an old version which had since been replaced by the HS368.

I contacted HighonBikes. They apologised and agreed that the older version must have slipped through.
They are sending me another HS368 and taking the HS306 back.

So mystery solved and full credit to HighonBikes for their quick and helpful response

 

[fossyant]

Jolly good. Happens...folk rushing to warehouse, pick them up and post.....

 

[Simon E]

After checking Schwalbe's site I found the HS308 was an old version which had since been replaced by the HS368.

Just an observation on this as I've been looking to get a pair of Marathons in 26x1.5 and noticed some discrepancies.

It looks like High On Bikes and other ebay traders are still selling pairs of HS308 tyres (the older version) on ebay, the tread is the old type. Spa Cycles stock some sizes (http://www.spacycles...walbe_tyres.php) and indicate the tread type on the product page.

I don't have a problem with this, providing people realise that this is 'the old model', and in 2011 its successor, the HS368, will itself be replaced by the HS420. Schwalbe USA have a page up for the new tyre: http://smtp.schwalbe...s.com/node/3654 though there's nothing online at Schwalbe.co.uk yet.